Google starts blocking access to Android tethering apps

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Device tethering is a feature we would all like the option to use on our smartphones, but the network operators want to limit and control. The reason? There’s money to be made in offering access to tethering as a separate data plan.

For the uninitiated, tethering is a feature that allows you to connect multiple devices to the Internet using your smartphone or similar device as the access point. In real terms it just means that data plan you already pay for as part of your smartphone contract becomes more useful as you can use it with a laptop, for example. You could burn through your allowance very quickly using it in this way, but in an emergency or just for a quick surf it is an ideal solution.

AT&T has been in the news lately for warning subscribers who jailbreak their iPhones and use unofficial tethering. If it continues they will automatically be charged as part of a smartphone tethering plan. Now it seems as though the same is about to happen for Android smartphones, but carriers have a surprising ally in their battle to control tethering: Google.

Rather than detecting which users are tethering their devices without a tethering plan, the carriers have instead talked to Google and asked it to kill access to all tethering apps in the Android Market. Google has complied making it much harder, if not impossible to now tether specific devices through an unofficial route. What devices are blocked seems to depend completely on what Google has been asked to block by each carrier.

This compliance by Google has come as a big surprise for some because it skirts the edge of licensing conditions for keeping applications and handsets open on the C Block spectrum Verizon uses for its LTE network. In fact, Google is remembered for pushing the price of the C Block spectrum sale up past $4.6 billion in order to ensure those licensing conditions would be in place.

The conditions state devices and apps can’t be blocked from using the C Block through a service. However, the app blockage is allowed as Verizon isn’t blocking access to any devices, just ensuring any such devices pay for an appropriate data plan. Google on the other hand is complying with a carrier request, not directly breaking the licensing conditions.

Has your Android smartphone been blocked from accessing these apps yet?

If I’m understanding this correctly, this is another good reason to go with T-Mobile, where tethering is “just included”. Plus, as far as I know they are the only carrier to support UMA, allowing voice calls over a WiFi connection – all included in your plan without any extra equipment needed.

No – I don’t work for T-Mobile. I just like their offerings! :-)

Of course, things may change once AT&T acquires T-Mobile later this year…

Whatever. Just check that little box next to “Unknown Sources” and install whatever you want from elsewhere. Android Market, as convenient as it is, is not the only place to get apps.
Still, rather disappointing move from Google. Hopefully they have something in the sleeve to justify it.

Gllj

you see these are the things that people love about android, the control, not getting bent over a barrel by apple or RIM for every single thing.
Looks like Google is joining the ranks of the ultra greedy corps.
as if you arent making enough money off of us already…why cant they just say the hell with it, were charging $30/month for a data plan, let them actually use it the way they see fit.
idea, how about offer it but limit it to 3-4mb/month then they wont cancel their cable internet and use it only when needed.